Joe
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State chapter of the Sports Writers Association of Nigeria (SWAN) has inaugurated a new electoral committee (SWANECO) to oversee its forthcoming elections, pledging a commitment to transparency, fairness, and adherence to the association’s statutes.
The inauguration took place during an extraordinary congress held in Lagos and chaired by Aaron Akerejola, interim chairman appointed by the National SWAN leadership. During the congress, members unanimously approved the appointment of Patrick Omorodion of Vanguard Newspaper as chairman of the newly formed SWANECO.
Other members of the committee include Anulika Menanya (Voice of Nigeria), McAnthony Anaelechukwu, Soliu Adeyemo, and Michael Nnabuchi.
The congress mandated the committee to conduct the upcoming elections in strict accordance with the amended SWAN constitution, ensuring a credible process that reflects the will of its members.
In his remarks, Akerejola thanked members for attending the congress at short notice, describing their turnout as a sign of unity and shared purpose to restore integrity to the Lagos SWAN chapter.
“It has been my vision for months to see all parties come together under one umbrella to chart the way forward,” Akerejola stated. “Our task here is simple – to assess the current situation and deliberate on the best path forward, in line with the mandate of the National SWAN executive led by Benjamin Isaiah.”
The congress did not shy away from addressing recent controversies within the association. Delegates strongly criticized the suspended chairman, Olatutu Oladunni, and secretary, Bello Omotunde, accusing them of using intimidation tactics to disrupt the congress and derail the democratic process.
Allegations included the deployment of non-state actors and personnel believed to be from the Department of State Services (DSS), who reportedly attempted to halt the congress under the guise of following official instructions.
In a strongly worded resolution, the congress called on key security authorities — including the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun; the Director General of the DSS, Adeola Ajayi; the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh; and the Area Commander of Area C Police Command — to investigate the incident and ensure their officers are not misused to intimidate law-abiding citizens.
The congress urged these agencies to redirect their focus toward national security rather than internal union matters.
The list of newly appointed SWANECO members will now be forwarded to the National SWAN leadership for ratification. Once approved, the committee led by Omorodion is expected to release comprehensive guidelines for the conduct of the elections.
